Political activist arrested with 15 kg opium

CHITRAL: Police in Chitral on Tuesday arrested a former councillor from Parabeg in Garam Chashma after recovering over 15 kg opium from his house.

In a statement the Chitral police said on the direction of newly-appointed District Police Officer (DPO) Lower Chitral Abdul Hayee, the police intensified its drive against drug peddling.

It said the new DPO has vowed to eliminate the menace of drugs and warned the elements behind the illegal business to either leave drug peddling or leave Chitral.

The police said during its ongoing campaign, the police raided the house of Shirin Khan, son of Chulak, in Parabeg and recovered 15,539 gram of opium. Further investigation is underway.

Shirin Khan, an LLB degree holder, was elected as a member of the District Council in late 1980s. For some time, he also practiced law in Chitral. Later, he contested general elections for the provincial assembly seat on the ticket of the PPP.

A number of people in the recent past have been arrested from drug peddling in the Lotkoh area. Due to its proximity with Afghanistan, drugs such as charas and opium are smuggled into Chitral.

Recently, the police arrested an alleged Afghan drug smuggler at the border area. However, later, the smuggler mysteriously disappeared from a police station.